Mesa Verde and Rocky Mtn Nat Parks
 

Hi,Moving daughter out to Albuquerque in late May and would like to visit Mesa Verde and Rocky Mtn National Parks on the way back to Wisconsin. Any suggesstions for lodging or itinerary? Really appreciate it as am not familiar with the area. Thanks

Mesa Verde has a lodge within the park. It is a little expensive, but it is correctly named: Far View. I thought it was a neat experience, for a short stay.
If you want cheaper places, try Cortez.
And if you want a quality store that deals in real Indian art works, go to Noteh Dinah. They will stand behind their products; if not satisfactory, they will refund the price or work out a substitute.

Rocky Mountain does not have lodging within the park itself, but Estes Park is a motel paradise. There are plenty of places near the park entrance. Take a look on the web; there are dozens of quality places to review.

If you go, I can suggest a most spectacular route. It starts with taking the road from Durango to Silverton to Ouray. And from there you wind your way over Monarch Pass to Leadville and come into RMNP from west to east over Trail Ridge Road -- one of the most spectacular mountain drives in the USA. I think it is THE best, and that includes the Beartooth Highway in Montana/Wyoming.

HI Bob, Thanks for the reply, we followed your advice last year for our trip to Yellowstone and it was Awesome! You must have hit just about every national park in your travels? Do you think any of the passes will still be closed in late May? Thanks again

Don't miss a couple of the guided tours in Mesa Verde. You will have to stop at the Visitor's Center and buy tickets (inexpensive). I love the Cliff Palace and Balcony House tours. Get one for morning and other for afternoon. May have to have 2 people in line as they often do not want to sell tickets for more than one tour per day. There are other ruins that do not require tickets but these are 2 of my favorites. Hope you can do ladders and are not too afraid of heights. Enjoy!

PS: Weather in early May in Colorado can be 'iffy'. Sometimes we have heavy snows then but also can be lovely. By end of May, no problem. Take jackets as it well may be below freezing in morning and warm up later.

OHH Late May. Dicey. We were in Mesa Verde in early May one year and drove over the road from Durango to Ouray.
The lakes were still frozen but the roads were clear. (Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Arches NP were the main attractions that trip. Hence the early date.)

Trail Ridge may not be open in late may. . It depends on snow fall.
BUT!! last year the road opened May 7, the earliest opening on record. The date is so variable, that predicting it this early in the season is not always accurate.

You can call 970 586 1333 or 970 586-1206 and find out what the status is that day.

As with the Sun Road, the economic impact is great, so the crews try to get the road open as soon as safety and conditions permit.

The road itself is a fairly easy drive. Officially, no incline is greater than 7%,which is really quite moderate for high mountains. The road, however, curves quite a bit as you climb/descend on the Estes Park side.
The switchbacks are well engineered and I don't think a prudent driver will have any trouble.

And my suggestion is to go up slowly. Stop a couple of times and let the body adjust. And if you get out of the car to walk, don't leap out running!!
If anyone has problems with oxygen conversion and absorption in the body, I would ask an MD about it before going.

If Trail Ridge is not open, don't worry, you can go part way up it and see the mountains. And there are other mountain passes to enjoy.

If you have a choice, I would omit the Fall River Road. The last time I drove it, the route is one way, uphill east to west. Most of the route is down in a deep ravine and I was disappointed.
I think you will see the mountains you came to see from Trail Ridge.

Depending on how much time you have, I can suggest some other routes as well.

PS. There are many parks I have not visited. (Alaska is still in the future.)
I do like Yellowstone; no place quite like it on the planet.
But then, too, I like quite a few other places.

Thanks to both LarryT and Bob , All of this information helps us out alot. We are young enough yet to do some moderate climbing and hope to handle the elevations. The drive in Estes sounds breathtaking. As far as national parks go I think so far my favorite is Yosemite for amazing scenery but I have not been to Alaska either. It would be nice if a person could retire from 40-60 to travel and then if you're not dead yet you could go back to work!

We went on the Balcony House tour and I was VERY fearful of the heights. Had I known that we would be climbing 30 feet against a cliff wall with no safety net I would not have gone. The rest of our Colorado trip was great though. Estes Park was beautiful and there was just a little snow left in early June.

We stayed at Far view Lodge in MV last June. It was great! We awoke to deer working their way through the area between our deck and the restaurant. Also, the Metate Room is a fantastic place to eat. The previosly mentioned tours are very informative and fun.
If time allows, Black Canyon of the Gunnison is breath-taking!